Hana Center Condemns "New" Muslim & Refugee Ban Executive Order

Hana Center Condemns "New" Muslim & Refugee Ban Executive Order

Chicago, IL--Hana Center and our national partners, the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and the Korean Resource Center (KRC), condemn the Trump administration's continued attack on our refugee and Muslim sisters and brothers.

Make no mistake. The new executive order, Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry To The United States, does not change the fact that this is a misguided policy that is motivated by fear. By casting immigrants and refugees as terrorists, President Trump is undermining the basic tenets of American democracy, and fomenting a culture of hate which leads to violence such as the murder of Indian American Srinivas Kuchibholta in Kansas last week. A longtime friend of Hana Center and leader of the Arab American Action Network Hatem Abudayyeh remarked, "The ban also sets its sights on Arabs and Muslims already here in the U.S., criminalizing us as the local face of the 'enemy abroad,' and making us targets of racism and hate."

The revised executive order will be effective on March 16, 2017. The travel ban still impacts individuals from the predominantly Muslim countries of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The ban will not apply to lawful permanent residents (green card holders) and removes the indefinite ban on Syrian refugees. Yet all refugees will be banned for a 120-day period.

We welcome refugees from all countries seeking safety and freedom for themselves and their families in the United States. As Asian Americans, we will not be silent. We must speak out to defend all communities. Today, as we mark the power of women on International Women's Day, join Hana Center, NAKASEC, and KRC and sign up to become a Community Fighter at www.nakasec.org/rights.

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The Hana Center is an affiliate of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC). NAKASEC is the national network of the Hana Center (Chicago), Korean Resource Center (Los Angeles & Orange County), and NAKASEC Virginia (Annandale).